Of modest origin (his/her father is tenant of the Hotel of commune of Boudry), Philippe Suchard learns the trade from confectioner in Bern, in his Frederic brother.

In 1824, with the savings which it realized during its training, it leaves to go on a journey in America, following in that a well-known mode of emigration to the beginning of the XIX ^E century: to go to make fortune in a country where all is possible. It will not remain there, but this voyage is for him the occasion to become aware that a new world is set up: Still a quarter century, and the United States will become a colossal power which will be able to face whole Europe (…) If Europe were a great federative State with a full freedom of the trade, it would be one of the most flourishing parts of the world.

In 1826, it founds its chocolate factory with Serrières. The production initially is intended for the confectionery open to Neuchâtel one year earlier. Of all the companies of Philippe Suchard, it is that which will succeed. With his know-how of confectioner, Philippe Suchard adds his perception of contractor. He thus develops many advertizing concepts around his mark, registering it thus durably in the market. He will apply also his ideology inside his walls to set up some practical which concern what one will call paternalism. If its workmen will continue to work between thirteen and fifteen hours per day, it will insure them against the accidents, will build a dispensary with free care and drugs, and will start to repurchase houses close to its company to place them. It is its successor who, on this real basis, will build the houses of workmen still currently known under the name of “Suchard City”.

In 1834, attracted by the possible connection the Rhine-Rhone, in which he sees a whole economic potential clearly, he founds a company of navigation and makes sail the first steamer which will sail on the Neuchâtel Lakes, Bienne and Morat. In a characteristic way, he baptizes his ship the Industrialist.

In 1837, it is the production of the silk which interests it. In Serrières, in the middle of its factories of chocolate factory, it is tested with the production of worms with silk and does not hesitate to plant three thousand mulberry trees in this area of vines. An epidemic of the bombyx as well as a catastrophic storm will be right of this company six years after its beginnings.

It is during this period that it accomplishes a second voyage in America with this time the idea to found the Alpina colony there : 20' 000 hectares of grounds located between the St. Lawrence and the town of Utica. Dependant on the exploitation of the iron ore, this project will make failure, but return to the country, Philippe Suchard created the Company of the asphalt mines of the Valley of Through. It is by its intermediary that the pavements of Paris and Prussia will be covered with asphalt neuchâtelois.

As he dies, he leaves his son-in-law, Carl Russ-Suchard, a company thrives employing some two hundred persons. It will continue to grow until it is absorbed by better capable companies to be defended on the market of the agroalimentary one. In 1982, Klaus Jacobs integrates Suchard into his group before selling the company to the American giant Philip Morris in 1990.

Bibliography:

Jean-Bernard Vuillème, “Philippe Suchard, chocolate seller, industrialist (1797-1884)”, in Biographies neuchâteloises, T. 2, Hauterive, 1998, pp. 287-293.

Claire-Aline Nussbaum, Laurent Tissot, Suchard: family company of chocolate, 1826-1938: birth of a Swiss multinational, Neuchâtel 2005.

Handwritten sources and in management:

Museum of art and history and Files of the Town of Neuchâtel, funds of objects and Suchard files.